(S2:E11) Fungal Zombie Apocalypse: A Review of HBO's "The Last of Us"

In this Three-part episode Ed take a deep dive into the Southern corn leaf blight epidemic of 1970. Ed interviews Dr. Snook Pataky, Dr. Sung Lim and Dr. Dave Smith. Dr. Snook Pataky is a professor emeritus at University of Illinois and former Monsanto employee. Dr. Sung Lim is former department chair and retired professor from the University of Arkansas plant pathology department. Dr. Dave Smith received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and was formerly employed at Dekalb, Monsanto and Zea Sage. They discuss the Epidemic and what it was like to be part of the research that was being done at the time.

Additional Resources

https://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/resources/Webinars/Pages/CornBlight1970.aspx

https://www.apsnet.org/members/give-awards/awards/Fellows/Pages/JeraldKPataky.aspx

https://www.apsnet.org/publications/phytopathology/backissues/Documents/1989Articles/phyto79n01_47.pdf

https://www.apsnet.org/publications/phytopathology/backissues/Documents/1993Articles/phyto83n01_44.pdf

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) Lim, S., Pataky, J. and Smith, D. (Interviewees). S3:E12 (Podcast). Whispers in the Fields: The True Story of the Southern Corn Leaf Blight Epidemic of 1970 Part 1. 3/6/24. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

In this two-part podcast Ed speaks with Dr. Alemu Mengistu of the USDA. They discuss soybean charcoal rot and some of the research conducted by Alemu over the years.

Additional Resources

https://utcrops.com/soybean/diseases/

https://news.utcrops.com/2018/11/charcoal-rot-what-is-it-and-how-to-screen-for-it/

https://news.utcrops.com/2018/09/free-soil-testing-for-pathogens/

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Mengistu, A. (Interviewee). S2:E11 (Podcast). Charcoal Rot Chronicles: Unveiling the Terrifying Truth Behind the Soybean Menace Part 2. 2/21/24. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

In this two-part podcast Ed speaks with Dr. Alemu Mengistu of the USDA. They discuss soybean charcoal rot and some of the research conducted by Alemu over the years.

Additional Resources

https://utcrops.com/soybean/diseases/

https://news.utcrops.com/2018/11/charcoal-rot-what-is-it-and-how-to-screen-for-it/

https://news.utcrops.com/2018/09/free-soil-testing-for-pathogens/

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Mengistu, A. (Interviewee). S2:E10 (Podcast). Charcoal Rot Chronicles: Unveiling the Terrifying Truth Behind the Soybean Menace Part 1. 2/14/24. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

In this episode Ed Talks with Dr. Alison Robertson of Iowa State University. They Discussed cover crops and corn seedling diseases.

Additional Resources

https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/epdf/10.1094/PDIS-04-21-0836-RE

https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/crops/covercrops

https://www.usda.gov/peoples-garden/soil-health/cover-crops-crop-rotation

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Robertson, A. (Interviewee). S3:E9 (Podcast). Stop Treating Soil Like Dirt: Cover Crops and Corn Disease Part 2. 2/7/24. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

In this episode Ed talks with  Dr. Alison Robertson of Iowa State University. They Discuss cover crops and corn seedling diseases.

Additional Resources

https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/epdf/10.1094/PDIS-04-21-0836-RE

https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/crops/covercrops

https://www.usda.gov/peoples-garden/soil-health/cover-crops-crop-rotation

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Robertson, A. (Interviewee). S3:E8 (Podcast). Stop Treating Soil Like Dirt: Cover Crops and Corn Disease Part 1. 1/31/24. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Daniel Karp of U.C. Davis about his work with Bird and crops. They discuss how birds can act both as pests and as pest control in different scenarios.

Additional Resources

https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.14124

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Karp, D.(Interviewee). S2: E7 (Podcast). Bird Poop Helps to Understand Bird-Crop Relationships. 1/10/24. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Deb McCullough of Michigan State University. In lieu of the Holidays, they talk Christmas trees and some of the insect pests that can affect them.

Additional Resources

Christmas Tree Pest Manual (msu.edu)

Michigan Christmas Tree Association:  https://mcta.org

National Christmas Tree Association (realchristmastrees.org)

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) and McCullough, D. (Interviewee). S2:E6 (Podcast). I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas and Maybe a Few Bugs Part 2. 12/27/23. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Deb McCullough of Michigan State University. In lieu of the Holidays, they talk Christmas trees and some of the insect pests that can affect them.

Additional Resources

Christmas Tree Pest Manual (msu.edu)

Michigan Christmas Tree Association:  https://mcta.org

National Christmas Tree Association (realchristmastrees.org)

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) and McCullough, D. (Interviewee). S2:E5 (Podcast). I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas and Maybe a Few Bugs Part 1. 12/20/23. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

This week Ed Interviews Dr. Darcy Telenko of Purdue University. They talk Fusarium head blight of wheat and the organization helping coordinate research on it, the USWBSI.

Additional Resources

FHB Impact update

FHB overview

Fusarium risk tool

Optimizing Fungicide Use for Fusarium Head Blight (Scab) and Associated Mycotoxins

https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/wheat/wheat-sector-at-a-glance/

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Telenko, D. (Interviewee). S3:E4 (Podcast). Wheat and Barley Scab? - USWBSI to the Rescue. 12/13/23. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Deb McCullough and her graduate student Nick Zoller of Michigan State University. They discuss Beech Bark Disease (BBD) and the work being done to monitor it.

Additional Resources

https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/files/e2746.pdf

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host), McCullough, D. and Zoller, N. (Interviewees). S3:E3 (Podcast). Is Beech Bark Disease Worse Than the Big Bad Wolf? Part 2. 12/6/23. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.